Book match holder and pipe tamper



Jan. 23, 1951 c. c. HOLLAND BOOK MATCH HOLDER AND PIPE TAMPER Filed April 26, 1948 Cecil 6 Holland INVENTOR.

an FMI Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNITED S. PATT OFF ICE 2,539,249 BOOK MATofiHoEDER ANiirIP'E TAMPER cecircsnmland, van Nuys, Calif." ApplicationAlJriiZii, 1948, Serial N o. 23,299 aclaimss- (o1. 131*247) The present invention relatesto'sm'okers' 'articles" and has particular referencetoa unique" pocket-type accessory" which serves; on the one" hand, as" a' backing plate" and holder for book matches and functions, on" the other hand, as'a' satisfactory tamp for packing tobaccoin the'bowl of a conventional-type'pipe:

Briefly, in" carryingoutthe principles" of the invention, that'is; froma purely structural'point' of" view, the'device hastodo with'a supporting base in the formofa fiat plate, the same having a clipat one" end toretain the book matchesin position and having; at'the opposite end, a pivoted arm with a tobacco tamping head.

In carrying out the patent'able principles of myinvention, Istress the fact that the structure is characterized by suitable base or plate .mean's:

which, in commercial practice,.serves as a support for book matches but also has the primary function of serving as a support for a pivoted tamping arm; there-being a-later'alear extending from an edge portionof the plate to coact with thehead 'of 'theta-mpingarm to not onlyiu'nc' tion as adetent-andto keep the arm folded} but -to serve as a shield to keep accumulations on said head from dislodging and falling into the users pocket. Visualized otherwise, the invention has to do with a base, preferably in rectangular form, but of other form if desired, an arm pivoted on the base, a lateral head on the free end of the arm serving as a tamp, and a lateral lug or car on the base having a binding association with the head to keep the arm folded in an out-of-theway position, when not in use.

Novelty may also be predicated, it is believed, y

upon a tamper for pocket use, in which the plate serves as a sort of sheath for the arm when folded and which also has the incidental function of a backing member susceptible of use, in conjunction with the clip, as a holder for book an out-of-the-way partly shielded position.

Figure 3 is an edge view of the structure seen in Figure 2, with the tamping arm extended in readiness for use.

Referring nowto the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals; the supportin base oi" plate means is preferably in the form of a" rigid rectangular plate 5', of appropriate material; One transverse-end of the'plate is bent upon'itselfto which ishingedly pinned, as: at 8; toonecorner" The arm is" normally adapted to extend crosswise of the plate" andhas afstop'dug, as at 9'; to engage the adjacent edge of'theplate; The free end of the 'armtermina'tes'" in a' suitably shapedh'ead' H] which servesasa portionof the plate.

tobacco tamping element. The left-hand l'ongitudinal'edgeportion'of the plate" 5 is" provided opposite'the hinge connection 8 with a lateral or upstanding ear H and thisservesi as a detent for thetamping he'ad lliand'als'oa'sa protective shield. The-headswingsinto alignmentwith the" shield and the shield is sufiiciently large to spread across the tamping surface of the head. Obviously, when the tamper is used, a certain amount of ashes, tobacco particles and incrustations will accumulate thereon. However, by utilizing the ear II as an appropriate shield, the users garments will not become soiled. I might point out, too, that the head [0 is slightly resilient and is intended to come into resilient retentive contact with said ear. Consequently, the ear also functions as a sort of a retaining catch for the tamping head.

It is obvious that I am aware that book match holders are old, and that many of them include base plates with retaining means such as aclip or the like for holding the book matches in place. It follows, therefore, that from the standpoint of the patent I seek, I am aware that from a com mercial point of view, the device is primarily a book match holder with tamping means thereon. However, I prefer to visualize the invention as a pocket accessory having incidental book match retaining facilities and concerned primarily with tamping means. Therefore, novelty is predicated upon a plate or equivalent base 5, which serves as a support for book matches, if desired, but is primarily a support for the swingable arm held by the detent-forming ear I! said arm having a lateral head and functioning as a tamper for tobacco in the bowl of a smoking pipe. Thus, the novelty is directed primarily to the Incidentally, the" The same platese'rves as right-hand end portion of Figure 2, as is obvious, and the claims are presented accordingly.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawingswill enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit ad novelty sufiicient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention what is, claimed as new is:

1. A smokers pocket-type accessory of the class described comprising a fiat plate having a lateral ear on one edge portion, a flat arm adapted to extend transversely of said plate and over lapping the plate and having one end hingedly attached to the plate opposite to said ear, the free end of said arm being adapted to swing toward and from the plate and having a lateral tamping head adapted to be positioned in alignment with the inner surface of said ear, the head and ear combining their collective facilities in providing a snap-catch for said head.

2. A smokers pocket type accessory of the class shown and described comprising a flat rectangular plate having an ear on one marginal edge projecting laterally beyond one surface of said plate, said ear being located adjacent to one corner portion of said plate, a flat arm adapted to extend transversely across said one surface in a manner to overlap said surface, one end of 3 said arm being hingedly attached to a corner portion of said plate opposite to said first-named corner portion, the other end of said arm being free and being adapted to swing toward and from the plate and being provided atits free end with a lateral tamping head, said head being adapted to be positioned in alignment with the complemental inner surface of said ear, said head and ear combining their collective facilities in tion, as a finger piece to facilitate the steps of providing friction-held retaining means for said head, an intermediate portion of an edge, the outward edge, of said arm being provided with a lateral lug, said lug constituting a stop and the latter being engageable with an adjacent edge portion of said plate to insure proper retentive alignment of the head with said ear, and the end of said plate opposite to that end provided with said ear having a return bend, said return bend being open at its opposite ends and adapted to serve as a holder for book matches.

3. A smokers pocket type accessory of the type herein shown and described comprising a fiat surfaced. base plate having an ear projecting laterally beyond a coacting surface of the plate, said ear constituting a shield and serving, in addition, as a detent, a substantially rectangular arm of a length corresponding to the width of said plate, means hingedly attaching one end of the arm to said plate, said arm being adapted to overlap the plate and having a free end, said free end being provided with a head, said head being adapted to line up with said ear in a manner to permit the ear to serve as the stated shield and also as a detent for the head and arm, and a lateral lug provided on one longitudinal edge portion of the arm, said lug constituting a stop and being adapted to engage a coacting edge portion of the plate when the arm is in a position overlying the plate and said lug serving, in addiswinging said arm in relation to said plate.

CECIL C. HOLLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,190,288 Head July 11, 1916 1,192,659 Malloy July 25, 1916 2,042,945 Lemay June 2, 1936 2,294,133 Schwalbe Aug. 25, 1942 

